Bronson Xerri has broken his silence since returning to pre-season training with the Bulldogs after the former Sharks centre served his four year doping ban.
Speaking with The Sydney Morning Herald Xerri revealed he was nervous ahead of his first NRL training sression with his new club.
“Walking in was pretty nerve-racking, but the boys were very welcoming and so were the staff,” Xerri told The SMH.
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“I was just itching to get on the field and get among the boys and as hard as it was, I enjoyed it.”
The 23-year-old signed a two-year deal with the Bulldogs after spending four years out of the sport following a failed drug test ahead of the 2020 season.
In November 2019, he tested positive to the presence of exogenous Testosterone, and its metabolites Androsterone, Etiocholanolone and 5b-androstane-3a, 17b-diol.
Xerri scored 13 tries in 22 ggames in his rookie season for the Sharks in 2019 and was regarded by Immortal Andrew Johns as a future NSW Origin player.
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The game has got even faster in the four years since Xerri last played due to new rules including the six again rule, which was aimed at decreasing the stoppages in the game.
The Bulldogs were put through a gruelling fitness session at Belmore Oval and while Xerri admitted it was tough, he wlecomes the challenge of a big pre-season after so much time away from rugby league.
“I’ve been training hard for this and honestly, that was tough,” Xerri said.
“But as hard as it was, I enjoyed every minute of it and I’m just keen to keep ripping in with the boys.”
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Breaking into the Bulldogs outside backs will be no easy task with the club boasting a plethora of options including Stephen Crichton, Jacob Kiraz, Blake Wilson, Hayze Perham, Kurt Mann, Blake Taaffe and Jaeman Salmon.
However, Xerri has set himself the task of impressing coach Cameron Ciraldo and repaying his faith by earning a spot in the team for Round 1.